Golf practice apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus is provided for enabling a golfer to practice putting, and which is also useful for practicing chipping, pitching, and full golf swings. The apparatus includes a base which defines a putting surface, and it comprises two spring-biased sensor arms which extend upwardly from the putting surface, and which are spaced apart on either side of the path along which the ball is to be putted. In the operation of the apparatus, the ball is placed between the sensor arms and the golfer lines up his putter behind the sensor arms. Then, when the golfer strokes the ball, the putter blade strikes the sensor arms and causes them to be turned down towards the plane of the putting surface against their spring bias. If both sensor arms are struck simultaneously by the putter blade, indicating a properly putted ball, a central indicating light is energized. On the other hand, if one or the other of the sensor arms is struck first by the putter blade, indicating an error to the left, or to the right, either one of two further indicating lights is energized to indicate a &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;left&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; or a &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;right&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; putting error.

United States Patent [191 Goldstein 1 1 GOLF PRACTICE APPARATUS RaymondGoldstein, 191 19 Nordhoff St., Apt. 218, Northridge, Calif. 91324 [22]Filed: June 27, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 483,688

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No.381,708, July 23,

1973, abandoned,

[76] Inventor:

[52] U.S. Cl. 273/186 R; 273/192 [51] Int. Cl A631) 69/36 [58] Field ofSearch 273/186, 184, 185,26 B,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,149,174 2/1939 Johnson273/186 R [451 July 15, 1975 Primary Examiner-George J. Marlo Attorney,Agent, or Firm-Jessup & Beecher 57 ABSTRACT Apparatus is provided forenabling a golfer to practice putting, and which is also useful forpracticing chipping, pitching, and full golf swings. The apparatusincludes a base which defines a putting surface, and it comprises twospring-biased sensor arms which extend upwardly from the puttingsurface, and which are spaced apart on either side of the path alongwhich the ball is to be putted. In the operation of the apparatus, theball is placed between the sensor arms and the golfer lines up hisputter behind the sensor arms. Then, when the golfer strokes the ball,the putter blade strikes the sensor arms and causes them to be turneddown towards the plane of the putting surface against their spring bias.If both sensor arms are struck simultaneously by the putter blade,indicating a properly putted ball, a central indicating light isenergized. On the other hand, if one or the other of the sensor arms isstruck first by the putter blade, indicating an error to the left, or tothe right, either one of two further indicating lights is energized toindicate a left" or a right" putting error.

8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures GOLF PRACTICE APPARATUS This application isa continuation-in-part of copending application Ser. No. 381,708 whichwas filed July 23, I973 in the name of the present inventor and is nowabandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION As every golfer knows, putting is a mostimportant part of his game, and his putter is used more than any othersingle club. Therefore, it is most important for a golfer to perfect hisputting skill. There are two familiar difficulties encountered inputting. The first is the ability to move the putter in a perfectlystraight line towards the hole, and the second is the ability at thesame time to hold the putter blade exactly perpendicular to the pathalong which the ball is to travel, as the putter is stroked through theball.

Directional putting errors are caused by the golfer causing the putterto strike the ball at a point other than the center of the putter bladewhich produces skewing of the putter blade as the ball is being struck,by causing the putter blade to be angularly displaced with respect tothe desired direction, or by striking the ball with the blade movingacross the desired path of ball movement instead of along the path. Anyone of these errors in the putting stroke can cause the ball to miss thecup.

The apparatus of the invention is especially constructed to enable thegolfer to correct the putting errors referred to in the precedingparagraph, and to acquire the capability of moving the ball along thedesired path to the hole with the putter blade exactly perpendicular tothe path. The apparatus of the invention provides an indication as towhether the golfer has fulfilled the aforesaid criteria, before, duringand immediately after impact of the putter blade with the golf ball.

The apparatus of the invention operates in a manner to provide thegolfer with an instantaneous indication as to whether he has putted thegolf ball properly. Thus, he can immediately detect any putting error,as he is making it, and this detection occurs at the exact time theerror arose. In the use of the apparatus of the invention, the golferdoes not have to wait until the ball has stopped rolling to determinewhether or not the ball missed the hole, and he can immediately startanalyzing the errors, if any, that he may have committed.

In the apparatus of the invention, and as explained briefly above,unless the putter blade is exactly perpendicular to the path along whichthe golf ball should travel at the moment of impact with the ball, theresulting angular error of the putter blade will cause an unequalangular displacement between the two springbiased upright sensor arms.This angular displacement between the sensor arms actuates a switch ofpre-set sensitivity in such a direction as to enable a correspondingindicating light to be activated at the instant one or both sets of armsare struck by the putter, to indicate whether the putter blade isperpendicular to the path, or whether a right or left angular puttingerror has occurred.

Furthermore, by positioning the sensor arms so that they are separatedby a distance which is a function of the length of the putter blade, asmall axial displacement between the center of impact of the putterblade and the desired ball path will result in only one sensor arm beingstruck, thus creating an error which is immediately detected by theapparatus of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective representationof the apparatus of the present invention in one of its embodiments;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. I, and is also adiagram of the electric circuitry associated with the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a presently preferred embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the embodiment of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of the operating components of theembodiment of FIG. 3, and of its associated electric elements andcircuitry.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS In the embodiment ofFIG. I, for example, the apparatus of the invention is contained in arectangular housing 10, the top of which forms a putting surface. A ball12 is placed on a tee 26 on the putting surface between a pair ofupright spring-biased sensor arms 14 and 16. The sensor arms 14 and 16extend up through slots 15 and 17 in the housing 10, and these arms areturned down towards the putting surface as the blade I8 of a putter isstroked along the path on which the ball is to be putted and past thesensor arms after impacting the ball.

For a perfect putt, both of the spring-biased sensor arms 14 and 16 mustbe turned down at the same time. In the embodiment of FIG. I, anindicator light 20 is energized when the arm 14 is struck before the arm16, thus indicating an angular error to the right. A further indicatorlight 22 is provided which is energized when the arm 16 is struck beforethe arm 14 to indicate an angular error to the left, and a thirdindicator lamp 24 is provided which is energized when both sensor armsare struck simultaneously by the putter blade to constitute a positiveindication of a correct putt.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, an elongated yoke 50 is pivotally mountedon a screw 52 for horizontal angular movement about the vertical axis ofthe screw 52 directly under the putting surface formed by the top of thehousing 10. The head of the screw 52 may constitute the tee 26 for thegolf ball 12. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, a first elongated horizontalarm 54 is clamped to one end of the yoke 50 by an appropriate clamp 56,the arm 54 extending parallel to the axis of the yoke 50 beyond one endof the yoke. Likewise, a second elongated horizontal arm 58 is clampedto the other end of the yoke 50 by an appropriate clamp 60, the arm 58extending beyond the other end of the yoke parallel to its axis, and inaxial alignment with the arm 54. A pair of springs 62 and 64 attached tothe respective arms 54 and 58 bias the yoke 50 to a centered angularposition perpendicular to the path of the golf ball 12 when it isproperly putted.

The sensor arm 14 is pivotally mounted on the arm 54, and it isspring-biased to an upright position in its corresponding slot 15(FIG. 1) against a restraining bar 68 by means of a spring 66. Likewise,the sensor arm 16 is pivotally mounted on the arm 58, and a spring 70holds the latter arm upright in its slot 17 (FIG. 1) against arestraining bar 72.

When the golf ball 12 is hit properly by the putter blade 18 in FIG. 1,both of the sensor arms 14 and 16 are struck at the same time, and bothare turned down together about the common axis of the horizontal arms 54and 58 against the biasing pressure of the springs 66 and 70, and theyoke 50 remains in its angularly centered position. So long as the yoke50 remains angularly centered, a contact 80 on the end of the arm 58remains centered between two fixed contacts 82 and 84.

However, if the sensor arm 16 is struck before the sensor arm 14, theyoke 50 and the horizontal arms 54 and 58 turn about the vertical axisof screw 52, so that the contact 80 moves into engagement with the fixedcontact 82. On the other hand, if the sensor arm 14 is struck prior tothe sensor arm 16, the yoke 50 and horizontal arms 54, 58 turn about thevertical axis to bring the contact 80 into engagement with the fixedcontact 84. The indicator lights 20 and 22 are connected respectively tothe fixed contacts 82 and 84, and to the negative terminal of a battery90. The positive terminal of the battery is connected to the arm 58which provides a conductive path to the contact 80.

As shown in FIG. 2, the contact 80 is spring-biased on the end of thearm 58 by means of a spring 81 into engagement with a third fixedcontact 83. The contact 83 is connected through a further indicatorlight 24 to the negative terminal of the battery 90. Therefore, so longas the yoke 50 and the arms 54, 58 remain angularly centered about thevertical axis, a circuit is completed to the light 24, so that the light24 is energized. As will be described, an appropriate switch isinterposed in the circuit of the indicator lights, so that the light 24is energized only when the contacts 80 and 83 are closed, and only afterthe sensor arms 14 and 16 have been turned down by the putter bladethrough a predetermined angular distance. In this way, the light 24 willglow to indicate a perfectly putted ball.

The indicator lights 20, 22 and 24 are shunted by respective capacitors92, 94 and 96 which serve to prolong the intervals in which the lightsare energized upon contact being established between the contact 80, andthe fixed contacts 82, 83 and 84. It will be appreciated, therefore,that a putting error to the right causes the indicator light 20 to beenergized, a putting error to the left causes the indicator light 22 tobe energized, and a perfect putt causes the indicator light 24 to beenergized.

Thus, in the embodiment of FIG. 2, the spring-biased upright sensor arms14 and 16 are pivotally attached to the respective horizontal arms 54and 58 at the respective end of the yoke 50. The sensor arms turn in aplane perpendicular to the plane of angular movement of the yoke as theyare struck by the blade of the putter, to be turned down towards theputting surface. The yoke is attached to the underside of the top of thehousing by the screw 52 which forms the pivotal axis, and which allowsthe yoke and arms to turn in a plane parallel to the putting surface.Both the yoke and sensor arms are restrained by, and returned to theirnormal undisturbed positions by means of the springs 62, 64 and 66, 70re spectively. The pivot arm 58 also serves as the center pole of theswitch formed by the contacts 80, 82, 83 and 84. The contact 80, in anembodiment to be described, is adjustable relative to the contacts 82and 84, so that the sensitivity of the apparatus may be set to anydesired degree, thus simulating accuracies required for differentdistances from the hole.

As described above, should either sensor arm 14 or 16 be angulardisplaced relative to the other due to a putting error, electricalcontact is established between the movable contact and one of the twofixed contacts 82 and 84, so that the indicator light 22, or theindicator light 20, is energized. On the other hand, if the ball isstruck properly, the contact 80 remains in contact with the contact 83,and the indicator light 24 is energized.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 3-5, the requirement for the centeringsprings 62 and 64 is obviated since there is no need for the yoke in thesecond embodiment to be held in an angularly centered position. Theembodiment of FIGS. 3-5 may be reduced considerably in size as comparedwith the embodiment of FIG. 1, and it is constructed so that the sensorarms may be turned oown into the plane of the putting surface when theapparatus is not in use, and held in that plane, so as to provide acompact and easily stored unit.

The second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, includes a T-shaped base 10A,so that its forward portion has a decreased width, as compared with itsrear portion. The sensor arms 14 and 16 are supported on alignedthreaded rods 101, 103 extending from the ends of a transverse yoke andprotruding beyond the side edges of the forward part of the base asshown. The rods 101 and 103 turn in the yoke 100, as shown in FIG. 5,and, against the biasing pressured of springs and 107. The springsnormally function to hold the sensor arms 14 and 16 upright with respectto the putting surface.

The sensor arms 14 and 16, instead of turning in slots in the base, aswas the case in the embodiment of FIG. 1, are positioned out from theside edges of the forward portion ofthe base 10A, as shown in FIG. 3.The sensor arms 14, 16 may be threadably adjusted along the rods l0l,103 to provide any desired spacing between the sensor arms. In this way,the spacing between the sensor arms 14, 16 may be adjusted to correspondto the length of the putter blade, in order that any slight misalignmentof the putter blade with the ball 12 will cause only one of the sensorarms to turn, indicating an error. The adjustable spacing between thesensor arms is achieved by providing bushings 102, 104 attached to thesensor arms and threaded to the rods 10], 103; and which are set todesired positions on the rods. The bushings are held in place on therods by appropriate set screws 106, 108.

A pair of tabs 95 and 97 are provided which slide in and out from theside edges of the forward portion of the base 10A, and which serve tohold the sensor arms 14 and 16 in their down position when the apparatusis not in use.

As shown in FIG. 5, sector switch arms 110, 111 are attached to rods 101and 103, and located at each end of yoke 100. Each switch has a fixedarcuate contact 120, 12] mounted on the base 10A. The biasing springs105 and 107 are attached to the sector switch arms 110 and 111. Thesector switch arms 110, 111 are closed to fixed arcuate contacts and 121as the sensor arms 14 and 16 are turned down from their uprightposition, and remain closed until the arms are turned down to theposition shown in FIG. 3. These switches provide that the electricalcircuitry associated with the apparatus normally is de-energized, andremains de-energized until one or the other of the sensor arms 14, 16 ismoved slightly by the putter. Therefore, there is no need for the yoke100 to remain centered when the putter is not in use, because theindicating lights are not energized until the ball is actually stroked.Also, the switches 110 and 111 assure that the electrical circuitry willbe de-energized when the arms are in the position of FIG. 3, and whenthe apparatus is not in use.

As shown in FIG. 5, for example, an elongated threaded rod 116 extendsout from the yoke 100 at its point, and turns with the yoke about thevertical axis of the screw 52. A contact 118 is threaded to the rod 116to be adjustable along the rod, and this contact selectively contacts apair of elongated fixed contacts 82A and 84A as the yoke 100 and rod 116turn about the vertical axis of the screw 52. Fixed contacts 82A, 83Aand 84A are attached to the sensing contact assembly, which is in turnmounted on base A. The contact 118 may be adjusted along the rod 116 toprovide any de sired sensitivity to the apparatus. The fixed contact 83Aengages the adjustable contact 118, and it establishes contact withadjustable contact 118 so long as it remains in its center position, asshown in FIG. 5.

The circuitry shown in FIG. 5 is similar to that previously illustratedin FIG. 1. It will be appreciated that when the sensor arms 14 and 16are in their upright position, as released by the tabs 95 and 97, ofFIG. 3, both sector switches 110 and 111 are open, so that theconnection to the positive terminal of the battery 90 is broken. Inlining up his putt, the golfer lines up the blade of his putter with theupright sensor arms 14 and 16, and turns the blade of the putter and thearms to a centered position, if his alignment is accurate. In thatposition, adjustable contact 118 is closed to contact 83A. Then, if thegolfer putts the ball properly, both the sensor arms 14 and 16, will beturned down together to close the sector switch arms 110 and 111, and tocomplete a circuit through the contacts 118 and 83A to the centralindicator light 24, which is energized to indicate a proper putt.

On the other hand, should one or the other of the sensor arms 14 or 16be struck by the putter blade before the other, the yoke 100 will turnabout the vertical axis of screw 52, to cause the adjustable contact 118to break with the contact 83A, and to cause the adjustable contact 118to contact with one or the other of the fixed contacts 82A, 84A. Then,when one or the other of the sector switch arms 110 or 111 establishesthe electric circuit, the indicator light 20 or the indicator light 22will be illuminated. It will be appreciated that there are additionalmeans for achieving the off-on-off operation of the sector switches 111and 120, and 110 and 121.

The apparatus described here may be completely self-contained within itsown housing, and may have its own power supply, to be readily portableto suit the convenience of the golfer. The apparatus of the invention isadvantageous in that by placing the indicator lights adjacent the ball,they train the golfer to keep his head stationary. Specifically, whenputting, the golfer concentrates on assuring that the center light 24will be energized, rather than the lights 22 or 20, and instead ofjerking his head towards the hole to see whether or not the ball isgoing to drop, he will keep his head stationary and concentrate on thelight 24. The apparatus of the invention also makes it possible, inrestricted areas, for an accurate putting stroke, and other golfstrokes, to be developed without actually using a ball.

It will be appreciated that although particular embodiments of theinvention have been shown and described, modifications may be made. Itis intended in the following claims to cover the embodiments which comewithin the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Golf training apparatus comprising: a housing having a top defining aputting surface along which a golf ball is to be moved by the face of agolf club along a predetermined path; first and second spring-biasedelongated sensor arms normally extending upwardly from the aforesaidsurface on each side of said predetermined path in position to beengaged by the face of the club as the club is moved along the path toimpact the golf ball, and to be turned down thereby toward the plane ofthe putting surface, said sensor arms being positioned to be engagedsimultaneously by the face of the golf club as it is moved along thepredetermined path only if the face of the club has a particular angularrelationship with the path and is properly centered with respect to thepath; an elongated yoke pivotally mounted to the underside of the top ofthe housing for angular movement about a vertical axis in a planeparallel to and displaced down from the plane of the putting surface;spring-biased means mounting said sensor arms to the respective ends ofsaid yoke for independent angular movement of said sensor arms about ahorizontal axis; first and second electrically energized indicatorlights; electric contact means mechanically coupled to said yoke; andelectric circuitry connecting said indicator lights to said contactmeans to cause said indicator lights to be selectively energized uponangular movement of the yoke about said vertical axis in one directionor the other.

2. The golf training apparatus defined in claim 1, in which saidmounting means for said sensor arms comprises first and second axiallyaligned rods.

3. The golf training apparatus defined in claim 2, in which the sensorarms are adjustable to prc-set positions along said rods.

4. The golf training apparatus defined in claim 2, in which said rodsextend beyond the sides of the housing to support the sensor arms inpositions displaced out from the sides of the housing.

5. The golf training apparatus defined in claim 4 and which includesside tabs for releasably holding the sensor arms down adjacent the sidesof the housing.

6. The golf training apparatus defined in claim 1, and which includes afurther rod affixed to said yoke at the pivotal point thereof andextending out from the axis of said yoke below the top of the housing;and in which said electric contact means includes a first contactmovable along said further rod, and second and third elongated contactsspaced from the first contact on either side of said further rod and afourth elongated contact centrally positioned with respect to the firstcontact.

7. The golf training apparatus defined in claim 1, and in which saidelectric contact means includes first and second switches coupled tosaid sensor arms to be closed during a predetermined portion of thearcuate travel of said arms.

8. The golf training apparatus defined in claim 7, and which includes athird electrically energized indicator light, and further electriccircuitry connecting said electric contact means and said first andsecond switches to said third indicator light to cause the thirdindicator light to be energized upon angular movement of said sensorarms without corresponding angular movement of the yoke.

1. Golf training apparatus comprising: a housing having a top defining aputting surface along which a golf ball is to be moved by the face of agolf club along a predetermined path; first and second spring-biasedelongated sensor arms normally extending upwardly from the aforesaidsurface on each side of said predetermined path in position to beengaged by the face of the club as the club is moved along the path toimpact the golf ball, and to be turned down thereby toward the plane ofthe putting surface, said sensor arms being positioned to be engagedsimultaneously by the face of the golf club as it is moved along thepredetermined path only if the face of the club has a particular angularrelationship with the path and is properly centered with respect to thepath; an elongated yoke pivotally mounted to the underside of the top ofthe housinG for angular movement about a vertical axis in a planeparallel to and displaced down from the plane of the putting surface;springbiased means mounting said sensor arms to the respective ends ofsaid yoke for independent angular movement of said sensor arms about ahorizontal axis; first and second electrically energized indicatorlights; electric contact means mechanically coupled to said yoke; andelectric circuitry connecting said indicator lights to said contactmeans to cause said indicator lights to be selectively energized uponangular movement of the yoke about said vertical axis in one directionor the other.
 2. The golf training apparatus defined in claim 1, inwhich said mounting means for said sensor arms comprises first andsecond axially aligned rods.
 3. The golf training apparatus defined inclaim 2, in which the sensor arms are adjustable to pre-set positionsalong said rods.
 4. The golf training apparatus defined in claim 2, inwhich said rods extend beyond the sides of the housing to support thesensor arms in positions displaced out from the sides of the housing. 5.The golf training apparatus defined in claim 4 and which includes sidetabs for releasably holding the sensor arms down adjacent the sides ofthe housing.
 6. The golf training apparatus defined in claim 1, andwhich includes a further rod affixed to said yoke at the pivotal pointthereof and extending out from the axis of said yoke below the top ofthe housing; and in which said electric contact means includes a firstcontact movable along said further rod, and second and third elongatedcontacts spaced from the first contact on either side of said furtherrod and a fourth elongated contact centrally positioned with respect tothe first contact.
 7. The golf training apparatus defined in claim 1,and in which said electric contact means includes first and secondswitches coupled to said sensor arms to be closed during a predeterminedportion of the arcuate travel of said arms.
 8. The golf trainingapparatus defined in claim 7, and which includes a third electricallyenergized indicator light, and further electric circuitry connectingsaid electric contact means and said first and second switches to saidthird indicator light to cause the third indicator light to be energizedupon angular movement of said sensor arms without corresponding angularmovement of the yoke.